Popular college football provocateur Paul Finebaum is signing a long-term contract extension with ESPN, sources tell Sporting News.

The negotiations between the host of "The Paul Finebaum Show" on the SEC Network and ESPN's management came right down to the wire. Finebaum's current five-year contract with ESPN was slated to expire July 25.

Finebaum will continue to host his own weekday show on SEC Network while also appearing as a national college football voice on "College GameDay," "SportsCenter" and other programs.

New ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro personally had a hand in the negotiations with Finebaum and his reps at CAA. If Finebaum did become a free agent, he would have been able to sign with potential suitors Fox Sports, Sirius XM, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Cumulus Media.

ESPN has declined comment on this story. Finebaum could not be reached for comment.